Maisy

Chapter 6: Maisy

There was a knock on my door, and when I opened it my brother appeared. We squealed with delight as I jumped into his arms.

"How are you?" He asked as we separated, retreating into my room.

"A little lonely with you gone, but you know," I shrugged, "how was your flight?"

"Long. Where are mom and dad?" I noticed he was wearing sweats, he must be really tired.

"They went to dinner. They're going to bring us back food, I was just about to watch a movie."

"Okay, I'm sorry, but I gotta sleep, will you be okay?" He asked with a pained face.

"Yeah, of course."

"Seriously, I can wait for them to get back if you want."

"I can wait for them to get back if you want," I mocked in a whiny voice and pretended to punch his shoulders. He didn't really try to play back, so I knew he must be exhausted.

"Whatever. Well go nap now! I'll have mom save your food."

He gave me a serious look and I smiled at him with my eyebrows raised.

"I'm fine!" I reiterated, but Caleb could see through my bullshit, "I'm just a little lonely, but I'll be fine to watch a movie by myself, I promise."

He stood before me giving me the 'and what else is wrong' look, like he often did, but I wasn't ready to admit my pining for Jon just yet, I wasn't sure he'd approve.

"I'm... working through something, but it isn't bad, but I'm not ready to talk about it... with you... yet."

"Okay," he started, clicking his tongue, "okay, huh. I mean... Huh." He repeated while trying to figure it out, figure me out and what I had just said.

"Is it a boy?" He questioned, raising his eyes with a smile.

I grunted and pushed at his shoulder.

He laughed, "oh, and it must be serious!"

I pushed him harder then, with both hands, towards the door while he giggled.

"Is it someone I know?" He continued as I opened the door and motioned for him to leave.

"Go!" I said playfully, pulling his arm towards the door, "please!"

And then, because he was good at his job and we have already learned that hallways were no longer a safe space for me, Jon stepped into the hall on guard.

"Oh my god," I whispered to my brother, "please, let this go!" I pleaded with him quietly.

But Cal didn't notice Jon, didn't notice my mood drop and said, "aw, the bowl runneth over, yeah? This runs deep deep. Who's got Billie crushing? Is it Tom?"

Unconsciously I glanced at Jon over his shoulder, his eyes bore straight ahead into the wall and I was relieved.

"Go!" I stated again with big eyes, giving Caleb another shove.

"Alright, Alright," his hands pushed air towards me as he backed into the hall, "time will tell."

I rolled my eyes and stayed at the door, then something happened that honestly, quite boggled my mind. Finneas just went over and started talking to Jon.

"Hey, Jon," he said, "watch the new Homeland yet?" I licked my teeth.

And Jon simply responded, "Oh yeah, that just came back, right? How was your flight? Holland was alright?"

"Flight- shit. Homeland- stellar. Holland- amazing. He actually is so funny, we are a good fit, thank you for that."

To which Jon responded, "he is a special one, I'll be the first to admit. A little too talkative for most, so thank you for letting him accompany you."

And for some reason it felt like I was melting, as they kept talking and I was thinking, 'what am I watching?' It was like a video, like two worlds colliding and I thought, 'since when were they friends?' I just stood there standing, stunned, watching them interact and talk like they've known each other since forever as I liquified. Like they were old pals when I was just standing here no longer able to recall my age or own name, and before Cal could turn back and find me shifting into soup, I zipped into my room and let my door slam.